A second senior season

As Mitch McClune lay in the hospital waiting to undergo surgery
to reconstruct the lower part of his left leg, he wrestled with the
more painful realization that his days of college football might be
over.

All of the hard work, all of the practices, all of the
sacrifices over the previous three years, only to have his senior
season end in the third quarter of WPI's first game. McClune,
playing his first game at safety, broke his fibula and dislocated
his ankle simultaneously on a gruesome non-contact injury in the
season opener against Merrimack.

That was Sept. 3, 2011. On Oct. 27, 2012, just more than one
year removed the career-threatening injury, McClune set a school
record with four interceptions, this time as a cornerback.

The only motivation McClune needed to come back was the person
on the sidelines watching him during that record-setting game --
his older brother, Matt. Mitch always looked up to Matt, as any
younger brother does. But it was a car accident on Oct. 25, 2009,
that forever changed Matt's life, and by association, his
brother's.

Matt was making the 20-minute daily commute down Route 93 south
from Boston to Norwell, Mass., where he served as a personal
trainer at a local gym. It was an otherwise nondescript Sunday
morning. But in a split second, Matt's truck struck an uncovered
pothole left in the road from recent construction. The hole, which
Mitch said was a foot or two deep, was enough to cause Matt to lose
control of the truck.

It spun twice across the highway before flipping side over side
three times. During one of those rotations, Matt was ejected from
the truck. The sheer force of the impact with the concrete broke
Matt's neck in three places.

Matt was placed in an induced coma for a few weeks and forced to
undergo multiple surgeries. When Matt finally emerged from that
nightmare, the 27-year-old former fullback at Sacred Heart was left
confined to a wheelchair.

Matt's recovery is nothing short of amazing. He now lives on his
own and is getting settled into a house in Braintree, Mass. He
still trains at the same gym. But it might be the impact he's had
on his younger brother, something that's impossible to quantify or
measure, that is most impressive.

Mitch still credits the turning point in both his football
career and his brother's professional career to the summer the two
spent training together in 2007. Matt had graduated from Sacred
Heart and was still trying to carve his professional niche. Mitch
was preparing for his senior season at Boston College High School.
Matt's hands-on football and workout instruction put Mitch ahead of
the curve on the field, while at the same time convincing him to
become a personal trainer.

Matt wasn't afraid to get his hands dirty as a fullback. Mitch
adopted that same attitude at WPI, where he played offense, defense
and special teams. Mitch spent his first three seasons primarily as
a running back, Wildcat player and kick and punt returner. But when
coach Chris Robertson asked him to consider shifting to safety for
his senior season because the team lacked depth, Mitch didn't have
to think twice.

"I just love football in general," Mitch said. "It really
doesn't matter where I was playing as long as I was playing the
game. It didn't really matter to me."

His first go-round as a safety lasted just two quarters, because
of the injury. But Mitch returned for a fifth year this season and
saw time at safety, cornerback and even outside linebacker. He
finished fifth on the team with 47 tackles and led the team in
interceptions (four) and passes defensed (eight). He was also the
team's top kick and punt returner.

"He's one of those guys that he's always had this level of
maturity, he's never complained, he's never made an excuse,"
Robertson said. "As a coach you love him because he's not going to
question what you're asking him to do. He's going to take what you
want him to do and he's going to do it better than anybody
else."

Robertson, then coaching at Salve Regina, first spoke to Mitch
when he was in high school. He knew the 5-foot-9, 175-pound Mitch
would be a key contributor when he arrived as WPI's coach in
2010.

"I would imagine that his heart is almost as big as his body,"
Robertson said. "He is tough. He is a quiet, ferocious
competitor."

Mitch's four-interception game garnered him the Gold Helmet, an
award bestowed upon one Division I player and Division II or III
player in New England each week. The award is considered the top
individual honor a New England college football player can achieve.
To put it in perspective, Robertson estimates Mitch is just the
fourth WPI player to win it since 1997.

That was also the last game Matt saw Mitch play.

"It was a good way to send him out," Mitch said. "... I
probably could have had five [interceptions]. There was one play
where I didn't get my head around quick enough and they completed
one. It kind of stays with you. Four's good, but five would have
been better."

Mitch, who will graduate next spring with a master's degree in
mechanical engineering through WPI's five-year master's program, is
also a standout right fielder on the baseball team. He was able to
play last spring, though he admits he wasn't 100 percent after
having the screws removed from his leg only in December. Mitch
started running again in January, and he was with the baseball team
for the start of the season. Mitch said he couldn't stand the
thought of being robbed another chance to finish out a true senior
season with his classmates.

Mitch might also follow in the steps of his father, who served
in the Navy. Mitch has applied for Officer Candidate School in the
U.S. Air Force. He's expecting to hear if he's accepted sometime in
early December. If he is, Mitch would start over the summer after
graduating from WPI.

Robertson, who pointed out that Mitch played with cracked ribs
this season and never said a word, said Mitch will make the
"perfect soldier."

"We got beat up this weekend by Springfield," Robertson said.
"You know what? Fourth quarter, you watch him play, you wouldn't be
able to tell."

Whatever Mitch does, he'll do it with full effort and
thoroughness. That's how Matt taught him, after all.

Playoff reaction: Four home games on tap

There weren't any surprises, as it pertains to the East region,
come Selection Sunday.

Conference champions Salisbury (E8), Widener (MAC), Cortland
State (NJAC) and Hobart (LL) were all assured of playoff berths.
Rowan was as safe a bet as possible when it comes to Pool C bids.
And that was it. The only other two-loss team in the region was
Lycoming.

The playoff field is set and it includes five East teams playing
in four games this Saturday. Here's my quick take on all of
them:

Mount Union bracket

Rowan (7-2) at Salisbury (8-2), noon, Saturday:
No surprise to see Salisbury at home here. What that means for
Rowan, however, is that a tough game lies ahead. The Sea Gulls have
only lost at home three times in the last three seasons, and two of
those came against Wesley. Salisbury boasts one of the best
triple-option offensive attacks in the country. Rowan is hot
though, and enters the playoffs on a two-game shutout streak. The
Profs blanked TCNJ 26-0 in the regular-season finale to secure
their playoff bid. Quarterback Louie Bianchini drives the Rowan
offense, but the team also features a balanced rushing attack.
Rowan's ball-hawking defense also has 16 interceptions in nine
games this season. Salisbury's history at home and consecutive
Empire 8 championships earn the Sea Gulls the right to be called
favorites in this game, but Rowan will put up a fight. Expect a
close game here.

Bridgewater State (9-1) at Widener (9-0), noon,
Saturday: Widener will be making its first NCAA appearance
since 2007, and will play be playing in its first home playoff game
since 2001. The Pride has never faced Bridgewater State, but it
will quickly learn the Bears like to run the ball. Through 10
games, Bridgewater State has out-rushed its opponents 2,372 yards
to 974. The Bears, who are making their first playoff appearance
since 2000, have been fairly stout defending the pass this season
too, an area where the Chris Haupt-led Pride have dominated. This
matchup is certainly a contrast in styles. In a case like this, I'm
usually apt to take the home team. The winner advances to face the
Rowan-Salisbury winner.

Mary Hardin-Baylor bracket

Framingham State (10-1) at Cortland State (8-1), noon,
Saturday: Cortland State is making its third NCAA
appearance in the last five seasons, while Framingham State is
making its first appearance in school history. Give the experience
advantage to Cortland. But the Rams defeated Salve Regina in the
NEFC championship game to clinch the playoff spot, so they are
somewhat battle-tested. Melikke Van Alstyne (1,563 rushing yards,
16 TDs) is the driving force of the offense. If the Red Dragons can
slow him down, they can disrupt the Rams' offense. Cortland boasts
a three-headed rushing attack behind Dorian Myles, Bronson Greene
and Justin Autera, but quarterback Chris Rose has been brilliant at
times this season. Ultimately, the matchup to watch here is
Cortland's defense against Van Alstyne and the Rams' rushing
attack.

St. Thomas bracket

Washington and Lee (8-2) at Hobart (10-0), noon,
Saturday: The Liberty League didn't exactly dominate as a
conference this season, but it did produce one of the most
physically dominant teams in the country. Hobart, making its second
consecutive postseason appearance, ranks fifth in the country in
total defense and 14th in rushing defense. This will be key
considering the Generals lead the country in rushing offense,
piling up an average of 381.3 yards per game. Hobart isn't too
shabby itself in the running game, ranking 24th in the country with
237.5 yards per game. This contest, the first ever between the two
schools, figures to be a hard-fought, run-oriented battle.
Washington and Lee won the ODAC and clinched the automatic playoff
bid for the second time in three seasons.

As it turns out, Alfred and Springfield seemingly can't avoid
playing each other.

The Pride will host the former Empire 8 rival Saxons in the ECAC
Northeast Bowl Championship (noon, Saturday). Alfred owns a 6-2
overall mark in the series, including a 30-22 win in last season's
matchup. Springfield finished the season strong, winning its final
four games. Freshman quarterback Jonathan Marrero has been nothing
short of spectacular this season.

Northwest Bowl Championship: Castleston State
at St. John Fisher (7-3), 1 p.m., Saturday

Top 25: Hobart, Widener lead the way

Hobart climbed one spot to No. 7 and Widener held steady at No.
9 in this week's D3football.com Top 25 poll, the final poll of
the regular season.

Salisbury remained at No. 11, while Cortland State rose one spot
to No. 18.

Rowan broke back into the rankings, checking in at No. 25.

Quick hits

Cortland State stopped Clay Ardoin on fourth-and-goal from the
one-yard line to secure a 16-10 win over Ithaca and earn its third
straight Cortaca Jug victory. ... Connor Eck connected with Kyle
Reynolds on a 31-yard touchdown in overtime as Union defeated RPI
34-28 to win its second straight Dutchmen Shoes Trophy game. ...
Parker Showers rushed for 188 yards and two scores and Craig
Needhammer added 95 yards and two TDs as Lycoming routed
Misericordia 38-0. ... Maleke Fuentes rushed for 143 yards and four
touchdowns as Alfred pounded Hartwick 30-13. ... John Schubert's
27-yard field goal in the fourth quarter was the difference as
Montclair State notched a 10-7 win vs. Kean. ... Ryan Kramer passed
for 260 yards and four touchdowns and Zach Dolan returned one of
his two interceptions 65 yards for a score in St. John Fisher's
55-20 win against Utica. ... Zach Groff rushed for 105 yards and
Marty Reinhardt had a pair of one-yard touchdown plunges in
Albright's 26-14 win vs. Lebanon Valley. Josh Borreli returned an
interception 100 yards for a score in the loss for Lebanon Valley.
... Springfield beat WPI 62-23 behind Joel Altavesta's 168 rushing
yards and three TDs. ... Joe Scibilia shredded Morrisville State to
the tune of 330 yards and five TDs in Brockport State's 49-21 win.
Tyrone Nichols added 162 rushing yards and two scores, while Jake
Spalik caught 10 passes for 140 yards and two scores in the
season-ending win. ... Patrick Ingulli rushed for 140 yards and a
touchdown as Wilkes defeated King's 44-32 for its third straight
Mayor's Cup victory. ... Alex Coviello rushed for 141 yards and
threw two TDs as Merchant Marine topped St. Lawrence 33-12 to win
the Hoffman Cup. Merchant Marine closed out the season at 5-5, its
best record since 2003. ... K.K. Smith gouged FDU-Florham's defense
for 251 yards and three scores on the ground as Stevenson rolled to
a 28-13 win in the season finale. ... Isaac Jlaka rushed for 198
yards and a pair of TDs as William Paterson beat Western
Connecticut 37-16. ... William Paterson and FDU-Florham, two
schools who lost games on Nov. 3 because of Hurricane Sandy, have
agreed to a non-conference this Friday night at 7 p.m. in Madison,
N.J.

Thank you/contact me
Handling the Around the East column duties for a second straight
season has been an honor and a privilege. If you've read the column
at any point this season, thank you. If you've emailed me with
positive feedback, a critique, or just simply to chat about D-III
football, thank you. Enjoy the playoffs and keep in touch. Drop me
a line at andrew.lovell@d3sports.com or
send me a tweet (@Andrew_Lovell).

Andrew Lovell is an associate news editor for ESPN.com and a former sports staff writer/editor for the New Britain Herald (Conn.). He has contributed freelance work to ESPN Rise and has been a regular contributor to D3football.com since 2007. Andrew has also written for a number of daily newspapers in New York, including the Poughkeepsie Journal, Ithaca Journal and Auburn Citizen. He graduated from Ithaca College in 2008 with B.A. in Sport Media and a minor in writing. A native of Hyde Park, N.Y., Andrew currently resides in New Britain.